Twelve Years a Slave - Solomon Northup

Twelve Years a Slave

By Solomon Northup

  • Release Date: 2021-06-30
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 426 Ratings)

Description

An Apple Books Classic edition.

In 1841, Solomon Northup was a free, educated Black man living in Saratoga Springs, New York—until the day that two men kidnapped him and sold him into slavery in Louisiana. This is Northup’s account of those years, when he learned about “the measure of ‘man’s inhumanity to man.’” Northup endured unconscionable mental and physical abuse, but he never lost hope that his family would rescue him…if he could just find a way to contact them.

Twelve Years a Slave was published as abolitionists throughout the U.S. were campaigning to end slavery, and it has stood the test of time as a blistering indictment of slavery. In 2013, Northup’s story was adapted into an award-winning movie. Northup’s story remains important—and the question he addresses to us readers continues to resonate: “What difference is there in the color of the soul?”

Reviews

  • Truly Riveting

    5
    By jesterjace
    Of all the books on slavery that I’ve read, this one is the most thrilling by far. It reads like a movie script and you can see why it made it to the big screen. I was blown away by the story of Soloman/Platt and his bondage in Louisiana. He does such a great job of explaining the particulars of slave life, plantation customs, harvests for different crops, and even the geography of the Red River area. The narrative is so compelling, and even though I know he escapes, I found myself honestly worried and surprised throughout the book.

  • This book is amazing

    5
    By rand0mpe0r0nxdjxtndufebcwi
    I don’t enjoy the fact that this actually happened to that poor fellow but his writing is so frickin good usually I quit books halfway thru but I stuck around because he was cooking istg helped me understand the period of slavery so much better

  • A touching 1st person story

    5
    By jbrwing
    The vernacular and phraseology of books written in this period my favorite. This story written by the author is a sad testament to times not that far removed from today. It’s worth while to read perhaps for a closer representation of slavery as told by a slave than what may be taught in classrooms.

  • Should be required reading for all

    5
    By Trish.doc
    A true first-hand account of slavery. This book cut me to the core. It was not so much that I didn’t know the trials I would read within, but to hear it in this voice, from this man who personally endured it, was incredibly poignant and personal. Every human being needs to read this book.

  • Everyone should read this book

    5
    By RachMay3
    10/10 recommend

  • Eye opening

    5
    By leadeville91
    We need to acknowledge and experience the past if we are to understand the present. There are so many atrocities that have taken place in this country that we simply aren’t present to. The level of description is deafening. I was left speechless to the inhumanities these poor people went through. Solomon constantly refers to slavery as an “institution”. It required the blood of thousands of Americans to deconstruct that institution. Some might even say that institution still exists in the form of racism. The way black people are treated in this book are oddly parallel to way they are treated to this very day.

  • Eye opening

    5
    By Walt6238
    This personal diary of 12 years of slavery of the author was an excellent read for me. Raised in the South I grew up with a “mixed” perspective of slavery. My mother was a Yankee. My father experienced first hand discrimination of black and red men. He was a high ranking officer during the integration of the military in 1947-48. I observed many signs of discrimination while growing up. But never knew many of the intimate details described in this book. It should be required reading at the high school level.

  • Good book, >Historical.

    3
    By GoneFishin0123
    Slavery ended 164 years ago. The Civil War was fought to ensure it truly was abolished. The last vestiges of social prejudice were overcome in the 1960s, in what’s called the Civil Rights movement. It’s curious why, with so many victories behind us, and the black population so upwardly mobile today, anyone wants to resurrect the dead past.

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